DPWH won’t stop Boljoon projects; loss of heritage site deplored

“Only a court order can stop this project.”

This was the firm position of Engr. Marlon Marollano, project engineer of the Dept. of Public  Works and Highways (DPWH), about the excavation work being done on the slopes of Ili Rock, the landmark mountain of Boljoon town in south Cebu.

He said  part of the limestone mountain was in danger of collapsing after the Oct. 15, 2013 earthquake and needed an engineering remedy called “slope benching”.

The P45.2 million project, intended to reduce the risk of landslides, has angered  fisherfolk, whose livelihood is threatened by the debris dumped in the seashore, and Boljoon residents who fear the loss of a landmark that is an official part of their heritage properties.

On Monday, the Boljoon municipal council passed a resolution urging the DPWH to halt the work until a public hearing is held to explain what’s going on or else chaos will ensue”

“This is a national government project funded by the calamity fund,” said Marollano.

“We are only looking at the safety of our roads and the motorists. If something will happen again, we will be the ones blamed. What do you prefer, saving heritage or the life of someone who perishes when a landslide occurs?”

A total of 68 fisherfolk signed a protest petition objecting to the excavation work, that started in October. Boulders and rocks dumped on the white sand beach of Oslob have blocked the passage of fishing boats.

Residents were told the area would be reclaimed and made into a park.

Ronald Villanueva,  heritage worker and tourism officer of Boljoon town, said he was disappointed that Mayor Merlou Derama wasn’t able to stop the project or call for a public consultation before it began.

Villanueva said that in a personal capacity, he and his lawyer brother, are considering  legal action to stop the damage.

They may file a petition for a Writ of Kalikasan and ask the court to issue a Temporary Environment Protection Order (Tepo).

“It is impossible that our mayor doesn’t know about this project. It’s not an  emergency situation where there’s no need for public consultation. I hope this is not a fund raising activity of our officials for the next election,” Villanueva said.

DPWH district engineer James Dellosa clarified that the P45.2 million project of  “widening of critical/ landslide section” of that area in sitio Talisay, Poblacion is not for  road widening.

“It’s just for the removal of cracks of the mountain area. Delikado na kasi yan. During the inspection of our personnel after the earthquake and Yolanda we saw cracks. This is an important project,” Dellosa told Cebu Daily News.

Engr Marlon Marollano chief planning officer and project engineer of DPWH 4th District, shows a computer image of tension cracks found in Ili Rock following last year’s earthquake. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)

Marollano said DPWH contractor QM Builders will implement slope protection at Ili Rock within the 60-meter easement from the shoreline.

Marollano said a separate P43.9 budget was released for a project  called “reclamation” but that in fact, it was just for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the shore protection.

However, when Cebu Daily News visited the area on Monday, there was no ”existing” shore protection there.

A blue print shown by DPWH indicates the area where debris from Ili Rock is being dumped is “proposed construction of shore protection”.

On site, the white sand from the beach was excavated and dumped in a deeper portion of the beach only to be replaced by limestone boulders.

According to the site engineer and project inspector James Arnold Estavilla, DPWH will be dumping limestone material  20 meters from the existing seawall.

Heritage workers said the damage done to the famous mountain is permanent.

“What they have done to Ili Rock and to the beach front is irreversible,” complained Villanueva.

‘These are being done at the expense of the people of Boljoon. I’m sure there are new technologies that do not have to damage our heritage site,” Villanueva said.

When CDN asked the public works agency what expert opinion was used as basis to conclude imminent danger of collapsing, Dellosa said there was no written recommendation given by Phivolcs for the cracks found in the mountain.

He said the project was based on the recommendation of DPWH district engineers who inspected the area.

Engr Marlon Marollano, chief planning officer and project engineer of DPWH Cebu 4th Engineering District, shows plans for the “slope benching” of Boljoon’s landmark mountain. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)

Heritage Value

In 2011, Boljoon municipality passed an ordinance listing all “heritage properties” in their town.

Ili Rock is one of six “natural heritage sites”.  The list includes its stone church, Patrocinio de Maria, built in 1782 and its environs.

The church was declared a National Cultural Treasure, the highest cultural declaration given by the Philippine Government.  Boljoon is being considered by UNESCO as a possible international heritage site because the whole church and the surrounding area still maintains its integrity.

Ili Rock overlooking the Bohol Strait is the town’s most famous natural landmark.

“During the pre-hispanic times it is believed to be a natural fortress and its is Cebu’s version of the Rock of Gibraltar… the building of watchtowers was a major turning point in Boljoon history,” the ordinance reads.

At the top of the rock are two watch towers. One was built by the warrior priest of Boljoon Fr. Julian Berinejo to protect the community from the raiding Muslim pirates, Moros.

Villanueva said the remains of the watchtowers are still there. The other one was damaged by the earthquake and only a third of of the structure is remaining.

Ili Rock

Golden Opportunity

The DPWH projects  in Boljoon which total P89.1 million are considered by Mayor Derama as a ”blessing” from the national government.

“If Tacloban is pleading for money from the national government for calamity funds, we should be thankful because we were given such amount. There is no reason to complain,” Derama said in Cebuano.

He said both DPWH projects for slope benching and reclamation would  benefit the people of Boljoon in the long run.

But for Villanueva, the tourism officer, the amount should have been used to improve the town, considered a heritage frontier of Cebu.

“It is supposed to be our golden opportunity that we were given that amount of money. Magpakabana sad unta siya unsa na ang nahitabo sa lungsod. (He should have expressed more concern for what is happening to our town),” Villanueva said.

Related Story:

Boljoon’s ‘Ili Rock’ Vanishing